Centrifugal machine



CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 3,927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 & if

35 INV NTOR B 3 M :23 Z 31 .53 ATTORNE s Sept. 22, 1931. 1.. D. JONESCENTRIFUGAL MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 illi/Ill} lNV'ENTOR m BY M ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 22, 1931 .STATES PATENT OFFICELEO D. JONES, F PHILADELPHIA, -PE1\TNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHARPLESSPECIALTY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE CENTIRIIE'UGAL MACHINE Application filed October .19, 1927.Serial No. 227,122.

This invention relates to centrifugal machines and particularly tocentrifugal machines used for purifying liquids or for separatingimmiscible substances from each other. i

The general object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal'machineof improved construction, and more particular objects are to provide acentrifugal machine of such construction that it is particularly adaptedto special applications but may be used for general purposes, and toprovide a centrifugal machinethat is readily operated without specialexperience and with very little attention without likelihood of becomingdisabled or out of adjustment.

A feature of my invention is that a centrifugal machine made inaccordance therewith may have its proportions so varied and its featuresso modified as to best adapt the machine to the operation to beperformed and to the conditionsexisting in the location in which it isoperated. Another feature of my invention'is that the operation of amachine made in accordance therewith requires nothing but the supply ofelectric current and the feeding of material to be treated; and althoughthe construction of such a machine is so simple as to preclude thepossibility of injury due to lack of experience or attention,

the requirements for successful centrifugal separation andpurification-are met in every respect, and the machine requiresonlyreplacement of the rotor at infrequent intervals 5 in order thatitmay be operated almost continubusly, Another feature of my inventionis that my centrifugal machine is very well 4 adapted to and is capableofa purification of the lubricating oil of an internal combustionengine, particularly theengines of automobi-les. Other and furtherobjects of the invention will be pointed outin the followingdescription, or will be apparent in thelight thereof. In theaccompanying drawings there are illustrated certain embodiments of myinvention-but it is understood that the sameare merely illustrative andare subject to modifi- 5' cation within the spirit of my invention.

. v Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional In the drawings like referencecharacters indicate similar parts, and

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view with parts broken away of acentrifugal machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view the line -22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

view of a modisubstantially on fication;

Fig. 5 is a plan view; I

Fig-6 is a partial sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view substantially on line 77 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, a centrifugal bowl 10 is connected in drivingrelation to a spindle 11 and is preferably supported thereby. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 1 the hub 12 of the bowl is provided withslots 13 and the cap-nut 14 threaded on to the hub clamps it to thespindle, and the bowl is readily replaceable. Adjacent the bowl thespindle is engaged by a resiliently supported bearing A, and spaced fromthebowl and from the hearing A a self-aligning bearing B engages thespindle and holds it against motion radial to its axis at the point ofengagement. Adjacent thebearing B, a motor armature 15 is carried by thespindle and the commutator 16 of the motoris between the armature 15 andthe bearing B and therefore very close to the bearing B. Field poles 17,carried on ring 17' are fixed in position for cooperation with thearmature 15.

From the construction so far described it will be apparent that thespindle is resiliently but suflicientlysupported and guided adj acentthe bowl, to the end that the'unavoidable vibrations and oscillationsdue to lack of balance during rotation at high speed will be properlytaken care of, and a point of the spindle spaced from the resilientsupport is fixed against radial motion but free for selfalignment, andadjacent that fixed point the armature and commutator are positioned. 1Thus, unavoidable vibration of the spindle will impart a minimummovement to the v I satisfactory.

rapidly but in prior construction, operation at such speeds by directdriye. has not been The bearing A- may assume various forms but in oneconstruction shown consists, of a ring-like member 19 having an annularreservoir groove 20 filled with oil absorbent material to the end thatthe bearing will carry its own oil supply. The inner surface of thebearing is provided with a groove 21 and wick 22 leads out of groove20and along groove 21, being knotted at 22' or otherwise held in place,and carries oil from the reservoir 20 to the face of the bearing. Screw23 closes against oil leakage the space con? taining knot 22'. A cap 24is provided for the oil reservoir 20. The resilient support for thebearing may assume various forms but in one construction shown consistsof a ring 25 of metal surrounding the annular member 19 and from whichtongues 26 are pressed out and engage the inner face of the bearingsupport 27. The annulus 19 rests upon a flange 27' of the bearingsupport and it is preferably covered by a cap 28 that will deflectliquids from the bearing.

The bearing B includes a sleeve 29 that engages the spindle and isprovided with a spherical outer face 30 that fits within the sphericalface 31 of the bearing support 32. A spring 33 rests upon a ledge 34 ofthe bearing support and engages the lower'portion of the spherical face30 and thereby resiliently supports the spindle and parts connectedthereto, lubricant reservoir 35 is formed into opening 2 in the-bearingsupport 32 and a wick 36 carries lubricant therefrom to the bearingsurface. A washer 37 and a nut 38 prevent longitudinal displacement ofthe sDindle. suitable cap 50 protects bearing B and advantageouslycomprises plates between which there is a layer of felt or similarmaterial 51 that engages the spindle or the sleeve 52 thereon. Cap 53completes the Y enclosure of bearing B.

' To facilitate the ready replacement of armature 15 it is carired bysleeve 39 that is slid on to spindle 11 and provided with hub 40 that isfixed to spindle 11 by set screw 41. Sleeve 52 extends from bearingmember 29 to sleeve 39. Hood 43 extends over the upper ends of fieldcoils 17, and fan blades 42 mounted on hub 40 rotate within hood 43.Three brackets 45 (only one of which is shown) support the field magnetsof the motor, and blades 42 cause air to be drawn 44 of hood 43 and tobe passed down through the motor 'after which it flows upward betweenbrackets 45.

Advantageously the bearing supports 27 and 32 and the motor br'ackets45are secured together and in the construction shown the support 27 isformed integral with or otherwise carried by partition 46 of housing 47,and the brackets 45 are carried by the lower portion of housing 47,'andthe support 32' is connected to a cap 48 that is carried by and closesthe lower end of the housing 47. Thus, thelower portion of housing 47comprises a motor chamber 49. In cooperation with the circulation of airin motor chamber 49, heat radiating fins 48a may be formed on theexterior thereof,

The upper portion of housing 47 comprises a purifying chamber 149 whichencloses the bowl and its'upper end is closed by a closure 54 attachedin any way as by thumb screws 55 (only one of which is shown).Advantageously closure member 54 carries or has formed therein a supplyinlet 56 and nozzle 57 that discharges into bowl 10. In the constructionshown in Fig. 1, the bowl is of the imperfo-rate type adapted forseparation by sedimentation, and purified liquid is discharged over weir58 and is collected in chamber 149 and withdrawn through discharge 6'0.Advantageously the bowl is formed with an inner frusto-conical sleeve 61that is supported in spaced relation from the bottom of the bowl andfrom weir 58 by wings 62 which insure that rotary motion will beimparted to liquid introduced to the bowl and which are preferablyprovided with openings 63 to equalize the quantity of liquid in thecompartments thereby formed in the bowl. In this construction the liquidis introduced near the bottom of the bowl and the centrifugal separationtakes place as the liquid advances upwardl ward discharge weir 58.Immiscible impurities are retained in the bowl and it is replaced whennecessary. By providing member 54 with an inlet opening 65, air or gasmay be introduced into chamber 149 or if that opening is unobstructedthe rotation of the bowl will cause air to be drawn in through it.

In any event air or gas entering opening 65 will come into contact withliquid freed of immiscible impurities, that is discharged in mist-likeform over weir 58, and tends to remove therefrom by evaporation orotherwise miscible impurities not removed centrifugally. To facilitatesuch operation, discharge 60 is provided with a trap 66 from which airor gas escapes from the housing through pipe 67 and liquid is led offthrough pipe 68. The liquid 69 in the trap prevents back pressure inpipe 68 from interfering with the normal flow of air or gas throughhousing 149.

Centrifugal machines embodying my infrom the usual storage battery andthereby receive energy from the enginebut they are i 5 operated atuniform and high speed and are efl'ective in purification of such oiland require little or no attention other than replacement of bowls inwhich immiscible impurities are collected; and in such case air enteringopening 65 may be heated to further evaporation of lower boilinghydrocarbons.

My invention also includes the provision of means whereby purificationmay be so car ried out that an immiscible liquid constituent 1 orimpurity is constantly discharged from the bowl, and such means andother modificationsare embodied in the construction shown in Figs.4to'7.V v I i f Referring to Fig. 4, the spindle 11a is -rotated by thearmature, 15 carried thereby and cooperating with field magnets 17 andhaving a commutator 16 engaged by brushes 1.8. Housing 47a carries atits lower end and. is closed by cap 48a which carries ball bearing 70that engages the lower endof spindle 11a and which is covered by cap53a. The mounting of the armature on the spindlegiis similar to themounting shown in-more detail in Fig. 1 7 1;

Partition 46a divides housing 47 a into motor chamber 49 and purifyingchamber 149. Mounted in partition 46a and surrounding spindle 11a is abearing support 27a. Engaging the spindle is a bearing sleeve 71 havinggrooves 72 which accommodate resilient pins 73' that are held inbushing74 in bearing member 27a. Bearing sleeve 71 is thus resilientlysupported. From an oil cup 75 a wick 76 extends through opening 77 inpartition 46a and extends down through groove 78 in bearing sleeve 71and provides lubrication for the resiliently supported bearing. a y

The centrifugal bowl 10a is provided-with dle 11a and rotation isimparted to the bowl Lby eccentrically positioned pin 79 carried byspindlella.

12a and is held in spaced relation thereto by ribs 81 (only one of whichis shown) on hub 12a. Surrounding inlet tube80 is an outlet tube 82 fora lighter constituent, and integral with the lower end thereof is adisk-like dividing wall 83 that is spaced from the top of the. bowl andcentered with respect to the bowl by radial ribs 84 (only one of whichis shown) which act to insure that liquid in space 85 will rotate at thesame speed as the adjacent part of the bowl. The space 85 betweendividing wall 83 and the top of the bowl leads to outlet passage 86 fora heavier constituent. Extending from the bottom of the bowl up todividing wall 83 are wings 62a that are held in place in any desiredman-' ner as by rivets 88 which cbnnect them to ina hollow hub 12a whichaccommodates spin- An inlet tube surrounds hub u'id in the compartmentsformed in the bowl by the wings. A substance introduced through inlettube 80 passes below the lower' end thereof and into the interior of therotating bowl and a lighter constituent passes out let tube 80. Wings62a are provided with openings 63a to equalize the quantity ofliqthrough tube 82 while a heavier constituent passes through passageand is discharged through outlet 86.

Purifying compartment 149 of housing 47d I is provided with a(-losuremember 54a which carries an inlet nozzle 57a within'which is 4 astrainer 89 for coarse particles and to which liquid is supplied througha flexible pipe 90 leading from a boss 91 to which a substance to bepurified is fed by pipe 92.

with ears 93 within which is fixed a pin 94, and ears 95 on cover member54a are .provided'with openings 96 through which pin 94 passes. A ring97 encircles pin 94 and a spring 98 carried by ring 97 is engaged byears 95;, Thus, the center of spring 98 is fixed with respect to pin. 94and the ends thereof press downward on ears 95 and hold one side ofclosure 54a in place. The other side of closure 54a is held in place bya spring actuated hook 99.

An annular partition 100 formed inside of chamber 149 supports afrusto-conical plate 101 and there is thus formed a trough 102 for thecollection of a lighter substance discharged through tube 82. Such alighter substance passes-into trap 66a and flows in covermember 54wadmit air or gas which charged from tube 82 and that gas passes offthrough vent 6 a. f-jHeavier liquid discharged through outlet 86 passesfrom chamber 149 through opening 60a into trap-66b and flows therefromthrough pipe 68?). The liquid 69 in the traps prevents any back pressurein the pipes 68aand 68?; from ingwith the-desired operation of themachine. 1 i

From the foregoing it will be apparent that in the operation ofcentrifugal machines em bodying my invention an impure liquid or amixture to be separated will be introduced to the bowl and in one casepurified liquid will be discharged while impurities are retained, whilein the other case separated immiscibleliquid constituents will both bedischarged from the bowl, It will also be apparent that gas orairbrought into contact with the substance discharged in dispersed form mayeffeet a treatment of the dispersed substance or cause evaporation ofthe miscible impurities, the vapor laden gas being vented from theenclosure. The mechanism is so protected that the machine may be used inany location and particularlyin conjunction with an automobile engineand the mechanism is so simple interfer- As shown in Fig.7 the housingis provided contacts with the finely dispersed liquid dis- 7 i againstdisorders due to operation and so effectively provided with lubricantthat little or no attention need be given thereto. The resilientlymounted bearing makes provision for inherent vibration but the motor ispositioned so close to the fixed bearing that such vibration will havelittle effect upon the air gap of the motor or upon the contact of thebrushes with thecommutator, it being a particular feature of myinvention that the spindle is driven by the armature which it carriesand the armature is located between the bearings but adjacent the fixedbearings.

While I have described in great detail apparatus embodying my invention,I do not intend to be limited to the details described but intend thatmy invention shall include such modifications and variations as fallwithin the hereunto appended claims.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that centrifugal machinesembodying my invention are simple in construction and protected andprotected against outside influences; and that such machines areadaptable to the carrying out of Various operations and to varyingexternal conditions,

The claims herein are directed to the mech-. anism herein disclosed forsupporting and driving a centrifugal rotor and to thosefeatures of acasing surrounding the rotor, whereby a current of gas is contacted witha substance discharging from the rotor and in my copending application,Serial -No., 544,57 6, filed June 15, 1931, which is a division of thisapplication, I have claimed those features of my invention relating tothe construction of the casing, the feeding of'a substance to the rotorand the conducting of a substance from the rotor to the exterior ofrthecasing.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal machine,'a unitary rotor spindle, a resilientbearing and a bearing fixed against radial movement respectivelyengaging said spindle at spaced points thereof, a motor armature mountedon said spindle adjacent said fixed bearing, a commutator for saidarmature and mounted on said spindle between said armature and saidfixed bearing,

iently supported in said partition,

driving relation, bearings engaging said spindle respectively near saidbowl and spaced therefrom, means resiliently supporting one of saidbearings, means supporting the other of said bearings against radialmovement and for change of alinement, a motor armature mounted on saidspindle adjacent said last mentioned bearing, and fixed field magnets inoperative relation to said armature.

4. In a centrifugal machine, a unitary spindle for driving a centrifugalbowl, a plurality of bearings engaging said spindle, means forsupporting one of said bearings against radial movement and for changeof alinement, and means for resiliently supportingthe other of saidbearings.

5. In a centrifugal machine, a unitary spindle for supporting anddriving a centrifugal bowl, a fixed bearing engaging said spindle andmounted for change of alinement, a motor armature on said spindleadjacent said fixed bearing, fixed field magnets in operative relationto said armature, and means resiliently restraining said spindle againstdisplacement radially at a point adjacent said bowl.

6. In a centrifugal machine, a casing having a removable cover, "fixedand resiliently supported bearings carried in said casing, a spindlesupported in said bearings, and a centrifugal bowl detachably mounted onsaid spindle within said casing adjacent said removable cover.

7. In a centrifugal machine, a casing, a partition in, said casing anddividing the interior thereof into compartments, a bearing resila fixedbearing n one of said compartments formed by said partition, a unitaryspindle supported in said bearings and adapted to support acentrifugalbowlin the other of" said compartments, a motor. armature carried bysaid spindle, and field magnets fixed in said casing in operativerelation to said armature.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. r LEOD. JONES.

and fixed field magnets in operative relation to said armature.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a unitary spin dle, a centrifugal bowlconnected thereto in driving relation, bearings engaging said spindlerespectively near-said bowl and spaced therefrom, a resilient supportfor oneof said bearings, a support for the other of said bearings andfixing said other bearing against radial movement, amotor armaturemounted on said spindle adjacent said fixed bearing, a

commutator for said armature and fixed on said spindle between saidarmature and said fixed bearing, and fixed field magnets in operativerelation to said armature.

' 3. In a centrifugal machine, a unitary spindle, a centrifugal bowlconnected thereto in

